The Hon. Trish Worth

Member for Adelaide (SA)

LIB, 1993–2004

The Hon. Trish Worth was the Liberal member for Adelaide (SA) in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2004, serving as a parliamentary secretary (Health and Family Services; Education, Training and Youth Affairs; and Health and Ageing) and as Government Whip (1996–97).

Prior to Parliament, Worth was the youngest chair of the Federal Women’s Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia (1986–88) at a crucial period for consolidating women’s political representation. Worth spoke out against the Liberal/National coalition’s decision to oppose equal employment opportunity legislation in 1987, criticising the parliamentary wing of the party and stating that the directive ‘departs from the party platform’.

Worth continued her frankness on controversial issues throughout her parliamentary term, campaigning, among other things, for legislation to ban female genital mutilation. A former nurse, midwife and health administrator, she was an advocate for the improvement of health services, including appropriate financing of hospitals, and for the need to encourage Australians to take up private health insurance to reduce the burden on the public health system.

After she left Parliament, Worth was appointed as a member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO.